GOP Rushes To Defend Insurance Companies From Dem Attack

[Joanne98]

Republicans took to the floor of Congress, the Internet and the Wall Street Journal op-ed page Tuesday in a rush to defend a health insurance company that used taxpayer-subsidized communication to terrify seniors with the prospect that health care reform will cut their Medicare benefits.

Republican leaders in both houses of Congress ripped Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) for urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to put a stop to the insurer's efforts, decrying what they called a "gag order" and reading the First Amendment on the floor of the Senate.

Baucus, meanwhile, seemed mostly oblivious to the Republican attacks. "I never gag. I believe in the First Amendment," he told HuffPost, but added that he didn't know what the Republicans were referring to. "I have to go back and look to see what it is we did."

As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Baucus spent most of the day marking up a reform bill that so far has no GOP support - although Maine Republican Olympia Snowe has offered some indications of being on board. Snowe has been speaking warmly of the package and most of her reservations seem to be that it isn't generous enough -- objections the Democratic caucus will be happy to overcome. And in Massachusetts, a state senate vote moved Democrats one step closer to regaining 60 seats in the U.S. Senate.

Meanwhile, the GOP rode to the rescue of health insurance companies.

"It is outrageous that the Obama Administration is trying to keep seniors in the dark about the consequences of congressional Democrats' costly government-run health care bills. Would the Administration impose this sort of gag order if seniors were being given information promoting the Obama health care plan? I don't think so," said Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).

"It looks likes CMS is engaged in government intimidation, pure and simple," said Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-Mich.), who sent off a letter to CMS demanding an explanation.

Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said it shouldn't be seen as coming to the defense of insurance companies. "I don't know that I'm coming to the defense of anything, except the First Amendment. I don't care who they write to," he told HuffPost. "You don't lose your rights because you happen to sell insurance for heaven's sake."

Story continues below

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/22/gop-rushes-to-defend-insu_n_295469.html

[napi21]

1. I wonder if they really thought about this position before

putting their mouths in motion? Honestly, the only people who actuaally support the ins. co's are the stockholders, and their employees, and even some of their employees don't! Their constituents aren't going to be real happy about those defenses.

[OHdem10]

3. Actually this can get testy. This is about Medicare Advantage.

The Democrats need to be careful here.

Apparently Humana wrote letters to each of their customers
explaining what would happen to Medicare Advantage Customers
as the Democrats take the money away from the Insurance Companies.
It is said that Baucus contacted Humana and ordered them to stop.

The GOP then stepped in with their accusations.

The Democrats continue by their silence to appear to be throwing
Medicare Advantage Consituents under the bus.

[napi21]

4. I have a Humana advantage plan. It's OK, and other than somed stupid

clerical errors, I've not had any problems. They take the $97 out of my SS each month & I pay $39 to Humana. I've checked on all the other plans available here, and although it's a little cheaper for me, it's not by very much. We live strictly on our SS checks, but I'm willing to pay a few more $$ to get HC for everyone else.

BTW, I didn't get a letter from Humana.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Interesting

how they become so incensed about the activities and conduct of organizations/businesses receiving taxpayer funds when it comes left-leaning organizations, eh? Just more hypocrisy from the party that just can't seem to resist piling on left-leaning taxpayer-subsidized organizations like ACORN whenever allegations of misconduct surface or when they simply don't like what they are saying about something.

[JohnWxy]

5. tried to recommend but was too late. Great post.